I don't see any gradual "transitional period". On the contrary nothing could be as sharp and distinct as an instantaneous rapture. Furthermore I think the Bible makes perfectly clear that when the "birth pangs" begin you know you're in the tribulation per 1 Thes 5:3, where "sudden destruction" is directly linked to "birth pangs".
How anyone can deny that 1 Thes 5:1-11 are rapture passages simply beggars credulity. The stark contrast between "US" "WE" "YE" (who do not experience the birth pangs or wrath), and "THEY" "THEM" (who are consigned to suffer both) cannot possibly be more intentional and clear.
In other words there is definitely no blending or transitioned here. There is only division, contrast and dichotomy.
Well, I imagine we'll agree to disagree on the harpazo. I understand why pre-trib proponents see only one harpazo prior to Daniel's 70th week. I understand why proponents of this theory keep Matt. 24 out of Daniel's 70th week.
I certainly don't deny that 1 Thes 5:1-11 are rapture passages. It is my view that there are two separate harpazo events shown in the scriptures. 1 Thess 5:1-11 are rapture passages referring to a harpazo event before the prophesied Day of the Lord which I view as occurring after the great tribulation (prewrath).
1. I do believe in the instantaneous rapture of the faithful glorified gentile portion of the Church described as the 'child' in the harpazo of Rev. 12:5 within Daniel's 70th week.
"The main reason for the rapture of the ‘child’/24 Elders is not to escape the wrath of God or to escape the rule of the Beast, but to assist Christ in His High Priestly duties so that He can take the scroll and begin His judgment of the earth.
Once the Lamb has taken the scroll, He will begin to exercise His right to judge. Someone must take His place before the
altar of incense, offering prayers on behalf of the saints on earth. That role will be ours, as priests after the order of Melchizedek. (Revelation 1:6) It’s conceivable that Christ would not be able to begin His judgments of the earth, without the first division of the priesthood being present in heaven to take His place of intercession at the golden altar. This may be one reason why Satan casts a third of the ‘stars’/angels to earth, and positions himself to ‘devour’ the child as soon as it is born, in order to prevent the rapture of the child. (Revelation 12:4) If believers don’t arrive safely in the throne room to begin interceding, Satan would then be able to maintain the ‘status quo', and the Second Coming of Christ would conceivably be rendered impossible."
2. The second 'thief in the night' rapture mentioned in Matthew 24:40-44 is for the 144,000 sealed of Israel who have endured the great tribulation and haven't become martyrs. This Matt. 24:40-44 passage is not the second coming in my view, although I understand why it can be interpreted this way. Jesus sends out His angels to gather His elect from earth (Matthew 24:31) after the great tribulation. The one taken who is taken is part of the elect: a believer in Christ chosen by God, who is "taken" in the sense that he is gathered off the earth and to Christ. Those who are "left" remain to endure the wrath of God at the opening of the sixth seal (Rev. 6:17)
It is my view the "birth pangs" or "beginning of sorrows" of Matt. 24:4-8 are not linked to "sudden destruction" in 1 Thes 5:3. I do understand though how it could be viewed that way. The matter of defining when the time of God's wrath known as Day of the Lord begins has understandably always been disagreed upon.
Sudden destruction is connected to the Wrath of God (Rev. 6:16) that occurs after great tribulation (Matt 24:15).
That sudden destruction does not occur at the start of Daniel's 70th week in my view (as "the tribulation" or 7 year DOL in the pre-trib theory).
The situation with Russia/NATO is now very unstable, and the same with Israel and Iran. Rev. 12 speaks of the woman (Israel) going into travail. It seems reasonable to me that the harpazo event of Rev. 12: 5 will occur as the woman goes into travail within Daniel's 70th week. Proponents of the pre-trib theory would understandably say this travail occurs before or at the exact beginning of Daniel's 70th week.